Cleared Off The Line

Tesho Akindele's journey around the world as a footballer gave him the chance to see places he never would've dreamed of going, literally and figuratively.

The former Canadian international raised in Colorado thought he'd be an engineer before MLS came calling as he neared the end of his college career. Then, he didn't know what he'd do after playing until a lightbulb went off and his travels became the perfect primer for his career as a Development Analyst.

Tesho is passionate about building communities that are vibrant, accessible and friendly for everyone. He talks about that and connects the dots from college to his life now on this episode as well as delivering insight to what his day to day life is like working in community development.

The Soccer Explainer is also back with an emphasis on the American men's soccer pyramid breaking down each tier and league with insight into how it could change very soon.

The Pittsburgh Riverhounds once were a team that wanted to get fans to attend at a handful of games per season.

That was success in their minds. Not anymore. The fanbase is thriving and the club is expanding.

That's why the Hounds are expanding their stadium capacity by thousands of seats to become a hub for Pittsburghers, a beacon of USL expansion and a model for modern American soccer.

Club President Jeff Garner joins to discuss how the Hounds are becoming a great example for all of those things.

Plus, a new segment called The Red, White and Blue Report launches as I dive into how boss Mauricio Pochettino has used his talent base in his first year in charge of the Yanks.

David Gerson has spent countless hours on a soccer pitch with a flag or whistle in his hand refereeing matches.

One day, a funny TikTok became an overnight sensation and Refs Need Love Too was born. Gerson's page highlights controversial calls in the professional game, gives referees tips on how to improve and explains the laws of the game while promoting respect for refs.

His thousands of followers also see how he advocates for safer soccer matches for referees and gives back to his community of yellow shirted friends.

We talk about how he started the page, the ongoing issue of referee abuse, how to have a better playing environment and his unique approach to a better youth soccer community.

If you've ever wondered how professional football clubs use data to scout players who could be the next big signing for the team, then this is your lucky day.

Charlotte FC's Lead Data Analyst, Daniel Wicker, joins the pod to discuss how his role and those of his fellow analysts and scouts brings ideas on paper to ink dried on a contract. (1:30-27:45)

Join us as we begin the pod with his interview with some insight into how the club nabbed Wilfried Zaha this year on loan.

Also, dive into the Top 5 Best Things to Ever Happen to MLS and American Soccer. Stadiums, TV deals and a few marquee players are in the mix. But, who's number one in Tuck's Takes? (28:00-38:50)

Lastly, in the Soccer Explainer, what are the major barriers of entry to soccer fandom in these United States? A lot of bad perception and a ton of subscriptions is part of the answer. (39:00-48:05)

We start today's episode by breaking down two huge pieces of news from MLS.

First is the Leo Messi All Star Game snub to one-game suspension drama in Tuck's Takes, where Forrest tells you why the GOAT should've been held accountable and how he exposed a major MLS flaw. It's not the one you're thinking of though. (1:15-7:30)

Then it's onto the pros and cons of the MLS schedule change to an August to May-ish season. Three reasons for each as Commissioner Don Garber says it's on the table after the next World Cup. That's ahead in Soccer Explainer. (7:30-14:15)

Finally, we have Lloyd Owers, Head Coach of the Marshall Islands Federation, as they embark on their maiden voyage as a national team playing in a tournament in Arkansas for a reason we reveal.

Also, hear from the Englishman about how he got involved in bringing soccer to the southwest Pacific, who some of his players are and their journey to becoming an official FIFA nation. (14:15-1:03:00)

The USMNT flipped what we thought would be the script during the Gold Cup.

Skeptics believed the blunder of two friendly losses to the Swiss and Turks was just the top of the slippery slope.

But, no avalanche of despair this summer for US fans after the team made the finals of the Gold Cup losing to Mexico 2-1.

We had questions then. We seem to have more now.

Who helped or hurt their case with a B-Tier team showcased?

What does Mauricio Pochettino have to do to create a culture?

How do you bring in the best 23 players next summer for the World Cup?

CBS Sports journalist Chuck Booth joins the show to discuss.

Simon Evans of the Soccer Business Podcast makes a claim on this weeks episode that's neither hot or cold, but is everything we know and love about football.

The fans were the best part of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.

They saved the tournament.

From what?

The litany of detractors from hours long weather delays to load management of players to Saudi sponsored sports-washing.

Boca Juniors, Flamego, Esperance and several other teams brought foreign fans with authentic ties to their clubs to the CWC. They made us smile from ear to ear despite whatever happened on the pitch.

Forrest and Simon speak on the two finalists, Chelsea and PSG, but more so address which sides showed up throughout the tournament, what FIFA must figure out ahead of the big dance next summer and how we should remember this new edition of the CWC.

The 2025 Club World Cup has more than its fair share of disappointments.

Tickets too expensive, mostly empty stadiums, heat too hot (for Europeans), no offseason for the likes of Real, Bayern and Chelsea too, issues with Saudi Arabian funding and so on.

In Philadelphia know for "Brotherly Love" (ok maybe sometimes not so much) the goals have been coming fast just as the fans have been through the gates from Brazil, Africa and England to watch several teams so far.

Larry Henry Jr. of SBI Soccer and The Athletic breaks down what he's seen on the ground at Lincoln Financial Field.

That's where we begin, but there's more to this tournament.

Flamengo and Botagofo bossing their groups, City and Juventus still to be tested and who do the lads think will lift the trophy in a few weeks time.

Also, what the impact of this tournament does in a positive manner for FIFA and he US with the World Cup under a year away.

Cameron Lancaster and Louisville City are synonymous with longstanding USL success.

The Englishman is the club's all time leading goalscorer and bagged the lone strike in the team's first ever title win in 2017.

He is as club legend as club legends get. But, he moved on awhile back.

Lancaster has been in Lexington with the Greens for two seasons.

Eight goals in USL1 last year, but nothing to show for in just over 200 minutes of action thus far in 2025.

So... what happens next? A loan move. Seems obvious.

But, back to Louisville? A now direct rival to Lexington?

Yup, that's right.

Benton Newman of Vamos Morados joins the show to discuss.

Mike Kozlowski and Joe Stadlin came up in the soccer world as Maryland natives who let the beautiful game take them across the world.

This month, outside of Raleigh, North Carolina, they are playing in TST (The Soccer Tournament), an annual small sided competition with a prize of one million dollars.

Every year, teams from professional clubs around the world bring household names to the set-up.

But, for these two futsallers, this is a chance to show why their game matters just as much as the 11-a-side that millionaire pros play on TV every weekend.

Teams who have won the first two tourneys have all been from tight-knit, small sided competition background.

For Joe and Mike, they know this is an opportunity of a lifetime to prove they can play no matter how bright the lights are.